Obama's Chicago fundraising gets boost from LGBT community, as volunteers bring in large bundles of donations

Laura Ricketts among fundraisers that include high-powered lawyers, investors and other community leaders

Many of the same faces are back as bundlers for Team Obama Part 2, though several who work in the administration are not part of the mix. While Obama faced a primary contest in 2008, he is now benefiting from supporters of his past challenger, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former President Bill Clinton.

Still, the work of bundlers is more pressure-packed this time by trying to raise dollars to allow the campaign to compete against so-called super political action committees, many backed by Republicans.

Kevin Conlon, who bundled for Howard Dean in 2004, Hillary Clinton in 2008 and Obama in 2012, called himself a "single and doubles hitter" because he says he does not raise money from the "big-dollar folks," though he also is a $500,000-plus fundraiser.

"I've sold tickets (to an Obama fundraiser) for as little as $44," said Conlon, president of Conlon Public Strategies. "I really reach out to people at the $500 level, lower-dollar events."

With Vicki Heyman and Wally Brewster, Conlon said he helped develop the Chicago Leadership Circle concept for the campaign, which is akin to a "season subscription" to Obama-related events in Chicago. The group has about 200 members.

"What I do when I'm fundraising is … not suggest you just buy a ticket, but I try to begin a relationship that shows you're now part of the team," Conlon said.

Heyman, who with her husband, Bruce, is a top-tier bundler, and Brewster are considered the local workhorses of the campaign and are regularly at Obama headquarters at Prudential Plaza, a supporter of the president's re-election effort said.

Bruce Heyman works for Goldman Sachs, overseeing private wealth management in the Midwest from the firm's Chicago office. He and his wife are members of Obama's national finance committee. In an emailed statement, Vicki Heyman said she "doubled down" her efforts this cycle "because more is at stake than ever before. We can't go back to the failed policies of the past."

Penny Pritzker, who was finance chair four years ago, has taken on a reduced fundraising role, though she continues to act as a surrogate for Obama at private events, and she campaigned with the president last week. As of June 30, she has bundled between $200,000 and $500,000, according to the campaign.

A national co-chair of the campaign, Pritzker also is advising Matthew Barzun, her former deputy and the Obama White House's former ambassador to Sweden, who is now leading the re-election fundraising effort.

Philanthropist Lewis said Pritzker solicited $50,000 from him two weeks ago for the Democratic National Convention. "I know from the last go-around that the (bundler) lists usually under-counted" the totals, Lewis wrote. "Penny Pritzker's total, for one, is ridiculously low."

Desiree Rogers, who endured a controversial tenure as White House social secretary, is no longer an Obama bundler. Rogers, who is now chief executive of Johnson Publishing Co., said she plans to max out on personal contributions and recently co-hosted the Chicago "Runway to Win" fashion fundraiser for Obama.

"This time, I am helping others bundle and directing funds their way given my new responsibilities at Johnson Publishing and the need to focus," Rogers said in an email.

Les Coney, vice president of Mesirow Financial, is currently bundling for Obama's birthday events, scheduled for next month. There will be a dinner at the president's home in Kenwood followed by a reception at the home of friends Marty Nesbitt and Dr. Anita Blanchard. Coney, also a top-tier bundler, acknowledged it was more difficult to raise money for Obama 2012 than Obama 2008.

"Nothing's easy, whether for a politician or a charity, it's always hard to raise money," said Coney, who also is the first African-American to chair the board of the Goodman Theatre.

"However, I would not be honest if I would say, 'Oh, it's equally as easy as the first go-round.' The first go-round was more of a movement. It was not just about supporting a candidate. And a lot of people wanted to be on board that movement. Now, it's not as much of a movement as it is supporting a candidate."